Means for transferring designs to printing surfaces



Feb. 3, 1931. P; G. ROBINSON ET AL MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING DESIGNS TO PRINTING SURFACES Filed May 23', 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l ya a Q. K M2 m fig me m wwmwm/ R4? 2 m N a P7 /lllL/ 3 JQ o F 9 1931- P. G. ROBINSQN ET AL 1979149339 MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING DESIGNS TO PRINTING SURFACES Filed May 23, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 aimed Feb. 3,. 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PERCY GO'I'CH ROBINSON, THOMAS SHIRLEY FOW'ERAKER, HAROLD HOLMYARD BEASLEY, AND TOM SARGENT, OF BRISTOL, ENGLAND MEAN S FOR TRANSFERRING DESIGNS T PRINTING SURFACES Application filed May 23, 1980, Serial No. 455,092, and in Great Britain June 11, 1927.

This invention relates to lithographic or other printing operations where an image (hereinafter referred to as original) is transferred to a printing forme, and the invention is especially suitable for transferring a single design or a group of designs from a prepared lithographic stone or plate, letterpress plate, sketch or like on to another and usually larger plate of zinc, aluminium 16 or the like, the single design or group of designs being transferred or ofi'set on to the surface of the larger plate or may be repeated a number of times thereon, these offset or transferred impressions being capable of being spaced one from the other at predetermined distances.

More particularly the invention relates to machines for transferring designs to printing surfaces of the type wherein a cylindrical forme support has designs or the like transferred to it by the aid of rolling contact of one surface upon the other in the absence of gears for obtaining the relative transfer movement. I

An aim of the invention is to provide improved means or devices adapted mechanically to transfer designs from an original with facility and accuracy to a printing forms in any desired predetermined relationship or repetition.

The invention consists in apparatus for transferring designs to printing surfaces of the type described comprising a transfer or intermediate element operating between an original and the cylindrical forme support and displaceable in a predetermined or fixed path so. that it is adapted to be moved into and out of operative position with respect to the original and forme support. Such path may comprise horizontal and vertical components. I

The transfer or intermediate element is preferably rotatably carried by a pivotally mounted frame, whereby it may be oscillated to and from the original and the cylindrical forme support. The invention also consists in apparatus for transferring designs to printing surfaces of the type described comprising an arcuate offset transfer element rotatably supported in a 'pivotally mounted inder.

frame, adapted to pivot in respect to an original which is also arcuate' and rotatably mounted for receiving impressions from the original.

Further features of the invention will be hereinafter described and defined in the claims. a

In the accompanying drawings illustrating a machine according to the invention:

Figure 1 is a. front elevation,

Figure 2 is a corresponding plan,

Figure 3 is an end elevation to a larger scale, 1

Figure a is an elevation of stop means for adjustment purposes.

In carrying the invention into effect according to one convenient mode as applied to the transfer of designs from an original, having a rotary or oscillating movement, indirectly to a printing cylinder or cylinder in carrying a curved plate, a pair of beds or frames 10, 11 is mounted at right-angles to each other, one (10) for the support of the original 12 and transfer element 13 and the other (11) for the forme cylinder 14 adapted to carry printing plates or formes. The frame for the cylinder is provided with rails 15 or a track so that the cylinder may be trav ersed in an axial direction. Any suitable means may be provided for efl'ecting the an transitional axial movement of the cylinder,

for example a power-driven worm 16 may be employed and adapted to cause the displacement of the cylinder by aid of a nut device. which may, if desired, be additionally adea justed by a hand-wheel 17. Alternatively, the cylinder may be moved entirely by manual effort and a micrometer movement may, if desired, be introduced. Means are provided for giving the cylinder or plate a conao trolled rotary movement. Such means may comprise hand-wheels 18 at both ends of the cylinder carrying pinions meshing with gear wheels 19 operatively connected to the cyl- The frame or support 10 carries pivots 20 upon which the original support or carrier 12 is rotatably mounted so that it may be oscillated or rotated to efiect the desired transferring rolling contact with the transfer ele- 1% ment. The original support comprises an arcuate plate or member 21 upon which the original isheld at one end by a clamp 22 and at the other by a straining bar 50.

The frame 10 may also serve as a support for the transfer element which consists of an arcuate surface or segment pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis by means of side levers 23 pivoted on bearings 24 on frame 10 so that the element is capable of making a complete or artial rotation.

hand-wheel or other means may be provided for effecting or controlling the rotation of the element 13 over a part of the revolution thereof, for example during setting. If desired, the element may be weighted, pendulumwise, so that it will automatically assume a given initial position.

The transfer element 13 is preferably mounted so that its pivotal axis 25 may be displaced both with respect to the original 12 and the forme 14 so that a gap or interval may be afforded between either or both, such arrangement being convenient and suitable for setting or adjustment purposes in determining the pointor position at which the rolling contact shall commence.

Adjustable stop devices may be provided for limiting or setting the axial movement of the cylinder, and for the rotary or oscillatory movement of the original. If desired, stops may be also employed in connection with the rotary movement of the transfer element.

The stops used in connection with the original 12 comprise an adjustable stop or pin 26 adapted to be engaged by the jaw stop 27 mounted on'the frame 10.

The positioning of the transfer element 13 is controlled by a projection 28 carried by the element which is adapted to engage stops 29, 30 on one of the levers 23. The stop 29 is pivotally mounted so that it can be swung out of the way of the projection when it is desired .to rotate the element intoithe position for transferring the design to the cylinder 14, in which case the projection 28 is brought into contact with the micrometer stop 30. The pivoted stop locates the transfer element in position for receiving thedesign from the original.

The stops for locating the cylinder rota- 4 tionally with respect to the transfer element comprise pivoted stop members 31 carried by the supporting side plates 32 and adapted to engage adjustable stops 33 mounted on the heads 34 between which the cylinder is mounted. The stop for determining axial disposition of the cylinder may comprise a hair-line device 35 carried by the side'plate 32 and co-operating with a longitudinally arranged scale 36 mounted on the rail 15. The stops 33 on the head at one end may bearranged for one setting of the cylinder while those at the other end may be arranged for a different settingif An alternative construction for determining longitudinal displacement of the cylinder is shown in Figure 4 in which a stop-bar 37 is provided and is carried in bearings 38, 39

.pointer 42 is counter-weighted so that it will be constrained to contact with a stop 41 when in the vertical position and by reason of its pivotal support it will ride over the stops, when longitudinal movement is imparted. Longitudinal displacement of the stop-bar 37 for a purpose hereinafter referred to may be effected by a hand-wheel 44 having a screw shank 45 which operates in the nut 46 fixed in the bearing 39. Backlash is taken up by -the spring 47. The periphery of the handwheel is graduated and an indicator 48 provided so that the amount of longitudinaldisplacement of the stop-bar may be determined.

In operation the original is rotated until the projection 26 is in position to be engaged by the forked stop 27 andthe transfer element 13 rotated anti-clockwise until the projection engages the stop 29. The transfer element is vertically displaced into contact with the surface of the original which is then rotated anti-clockwise so that the transfer element rolls upon the original, receiving the impression or offset therefrom in perfect replica. At the termination of the rolling contact the transfer element is freed from the original and is rotated anti-clockwise into a position to transfer the offset impression to the cylinder or curved plate, that is to say, with the projection 28 abutting against the micrometer stop 30, the pivoting stop 29 being moved out of the way to permit this. Where relative displacement of the element and cylinder towards or away from one another is provided, as shown in the drawings,

. or like work, one plate or forme will be preregister.

pared for one colour or character'of printing, while another or other will be prepared for'the ot ier colours or characteristics. It will be appreciated that the disposition of the designs upon the various plates must be such that when utilized for printing purposes the designs on the va-.

rious plates may be brought into accurate Owing, however, to unavoidable alterations which take place, such for example as the shrinkage or expansion of the paper, it'is insuflicient to transfer the design impressions corresponding with the various colours in exactly the same relative positions upon each plate. tion must be provided for, which corresponds with the distortion, shrinkage or other variation which may arise in the printing process.

According to-the invention in order to overcome the above defects and provide an apparatus in which actual colour printing registration may be efiected, both the axial displacement of the printing forme and the arcuate displacement of the transfer element may be provided with micrometer means or adjustments to allow for the deviations or distortions referred to above. For example, the hair-line device may be displaceable relatively to its mounting by a micrometer adjusting device 51.

I Before stepping the cylinder from one position to another in accordance with markings equivalent to the arrangement of the stops, the hair-line is displaced backwards or forwards by means of the micrometer adjustment to a degree predetermined according to the amount of shrinkage or contraction, for example, of the paper so that in .inoving from one situation to another the actual displacement of the cylinder is not that which is represented between one mark and another but an increment or decrement of such displacement corresponding with the preliminary adjustment of the hair-line.

' by the hand-wheel 44.

late or plates Allowance or accommodav In order to take care of the registration ,circumferentially of the plate or cylinder, the stops in association with the transfer element may individually or bodily be capable of micrometer adjustment as indicated with reference to the stop 30, so that the exact position of point of contact between the transfer element and the cylinder may be altered in accordance with the variation to be provided for. Alternatively the stops 33 utilizcd to determine the position of the cylinder or forme may be in a like manner indivvidually adjustable circumferentially; or

the stops 33 may be mounted upon a disc or bezel which is capable of relative angular adjustment with respect to the printing forme or the impressions thereon so that the position of the stops as a whole may be adjusted. Displacement of the transfer element with respect to the cylinder and original has been referred to above for the purpose of determining or adjusting the position of contact or where the rolling contact shall commence. These means may be also adapted to provide for a variation of pressure between the surfaces during transfer as may be required ac-v cording to the materials employed. Alternatively, instead of utilizing the same displacement for pressure purposes different or auxiliary means may be installed for causing the rolling contact to take place at a greater or less pressure according to the requirements of transfer. According to the arrangement preferred (see Figure 3) the transfer element is rotatably mounted upon the pair of pivoted levers or arms 23 which are capable of limited application of variable tension spring means:

The adjustments of the weighting of the lever may be such that under normal conditions the transfer element automatically as- According to the preferred arrangement the two pivoted levers 23 are connected at'their ends by a pair of links 53 to arms or levers 54 carried by and keyed to a transverse rotary shaft 55. Thisshaft carries rigidly secured thereto and preferably intermediate the link connections, a double-armed lever 56 which has depending from it a pair ofslotted links 57, 58. These links are pivotally secured tothe-double-armed lever one on each side of theshaft 55. apd one of these links 57 is adjustable longitudina ly of the double-- armed lever 56. The slots 59, 60 of the links 57, 58 are engaged by a pair of pins 61, 62 proa variable counterpoise 65. The pivot 66 of this counterpoise and weighted lever is adjustable in a verticatsense, either upwardly or downwardly, the arrangement being such that an upward adjustment of the pivot throws a strain upon the link 57, causing the double-armed lever 56 to rotate clockwise and thus bringthe transfer element, through the displacement of its pivoted levers, into contact with the original. The addition of weights to the counterpoise will increase the pressure of the contact between the transfer element and the original.

If the pivot 66 of the weighted lever-is moved downwardly then the transfer element is in a corresponding manner, in association with the other slotted link 58, brought into contact with the cylinder or forme 14: and the pressure thereof may be adjusted by the variation of the counterpoise.

The adjustment of one of the links 57, 58 affords means for providing a differential pressure between the transfer element and the original, and between the transfer element and the cylinder, while in one position the pressure in connection with the original and in connection with the forme may be uniform. Such adjustment is effected by mounting the pivot of the link 57 and the pin 61 in slides 67 which are capable of movement along the levers 56 and 63.

The vertical displacement of the pivot 66 of the lever 63 is efi ected by connecting such pivot to an arm 68 rigid on the shaft 69, the latter being rotated by the hand lever 70 which is provided with a catch (not shown) engaging inslots in a quadrant 7 I whereby the parts may be locked in their adjusted positions.

Having now described our invention, what weclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Step and repeat apparatus for transferring designs to printing surfaces comprising a cylindrical printing forme adapted to receive impressions from a rotatably mounted original by the aid of rollingcontact of one surface upon the other for obtaining the relative transfer movement, a pivotally mounted frame, a transfer element rotatably mounted on said frame, the arrangement being such that the transfer element may be moved into contact with the original or the printing surface or to a neutral position.

2. Step and repeat apparatus for transferring designs to printing surfaces as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pivotally mounted frame is coupled to a weighted lever adapted to secure a mechanical advantage to' create and maintain pressure for the rolling contact.

3. Step and repeat apparatus for transferring designs to printing surfaces comprising a cylindrical printing forme adapted to receive impressions from a rotatably mounted original by the aid of rolling contact of one surface upon the other for obtaining the rela tive transfer movement, a pivotally mounted frame, a transfer element rotatably mounted on said frame, the arrangement being such that the transfer element may be moved into contact with the original or the printing surface or to a neutral position, and stops for determining the position of the original design, the transfer element and the printing forme relatively to one'another.

4. Step and repeat apparatus for transfer ring designs to printing surfaces as claimed in claim 3 comprising a pivoted stop on said frame, a projection on the transfer element adapted to engage said stop for adjusting the element with respect to the original design, and a micrometer stop on the frame for adjusting the transfer element with respect to the cylindrical printing forme.

5. Step and repeat apparatus for transferring designs to printing surfaces as claimed in claim 3 comprising a frame, a support for the original design rotatably mounted on said bed, an adjustable stop on said support and a forked member pivotally mounted on the 'frame and adapted to be engaged by said projection for the purposes set forth.

6. Step and repeat apparatus for transferring designs to printing surfaces as claimed in claim 3 comprising a supporting frame carrying the cylindrical forme for rotation therewith, heads arranged at the ends-of the cylinder, adjustable stops carried by the heads, and fork members pivotally mounted on the supporting frame and adapted to engage said stops.

7. Step and repeat apparatus for trans ferring designs to printing surfaces as claimed in claim 3 comprising a supportingframe carrying the cylindrical forme, said frame being axially adjustable with respect to the bed of the machine and stops for determining said axial position.

8. Step and repeat apparatus for transferring designs to printing surfaces as claimed in claim 3, comprising a supporting frame carrying the cylindrical forme, said frame being axially adjustable with respect to the bed of the machine and stops for determining said axial position, said stops comprising a pivoted pointer carried by the forme support, a longitudinally slotted bar carried by the bed of the machine, and adjustable stops in said slot, the pointer being adapted to engage and override said stops.

9. Step and repeat apparatus for transferring designs to printing surfaces as claimed in claim 3 comprising a supporting frame carrying the cylindrical forme, said frame being axially adjustable with respect to the bed of the machine and stops for determining said axial position, said stops comprising a pivoted pointer carried by the forme support. a bar mounted for rotation on the bed of the machine and having a plurality of longitudinally extending slots, and adjustable stops in said slots, the pointer being adapted to engage in a predetermined slot and engage and override said stops.

10. Step and repeat apparatus for transferring designs to printing surfaces as claimed in claim 3 comprising a supporting frame carrying the cylindrical forme, said frame being axially adjustable with respect to the bed of the machine and stops for determining said axial position, said stops comprising a pivoted pointer carried by the forme support, a bar mounted for rotation on the bed of the machine and having a plurality of longitudinally extending slots, means for axial micrometer adjustment of the bar with respect to the bed of the machine, and adjustable stops on said slots, the pointer being adapted to engage in a predetermined slot and engage and override said stops.

11. Step and repeat apparatus for transferring designs to printing surfaces comprising a cylindrical printing forme adapted to receive impressions from an original by the aid of rolling contact of one surface upon the other for obtaining the relative transfer movement, an arcuate oflset transfer element pivotally mounted with respect to an arcuate rotatably mounted original.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

PERCY GOTCH ROBINSON. THOMAS SHIRLEY FOWERAKER. HAROLD HOLMYARD BEASLEY. TOM SARGENT. 

